An historic international religious freedom conference held at the European Parliament, November 16-17, focused on common issues of minorities living in Turkey. The Conference proposed solutions in the hopes that Turkey will ultimately do what is in its own best interest in order to gain accession to the European Union by dramatically improving its religious freedom policies towards the Ecumenical Patriarchate and other religious minorities.

What brought me to the European capital this time is an international conference organized by the Archons.
Never heard of the Archons before? I, at least, had not heard about them until a few months ago, when they invited me to speak at the "Religious Freedom: Turkey's Bridge to the European Union" conference, which was held this week right at the European Parliament.

In conjunction with the International Archon Religious Freedom Conference at the European Parliament held in Brussels, Belgium, the New Europe newspaper published an insert regarding religious freedom as a fundamental principle for human life.

On Tuesday November 16, 2010, the Order of Saint Andrew, and the Order of Pammakaristos, Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in the Americas and Europe, will honor His Excellency, Egemen Bağiş, Minister for European Union Affairs and Chief Negotiator of the Republic of Turkey, for his extraordinary labors on behalf of religious minorities in Turkey and for creating bridges of understanding between diverse cultures and civilizations.

The Order of St. Andrew the Apostle, Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in America, will hold an International Religious Freedom Conference entitled "Religious Freedom: Turkey's Bridge to the European Union," on November 16-17, 2010 at the European Parliament in Brussels, Belgium.

The International Archon Religious Freedom Conference has been finalized and is scheduled in Brussels, Belgium at the European Parliament from November 13-19. The US Embassy to the Kingdom of Belgium, where Ambassador and Mrs. Howard Gutman are hosting a reception in honor of the Conference, needs to have the names of invitees with social security numbers as soon as possible. The Order needs to know if you are planning to attend this historic conference.

Join His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America for a two day conference in Brussels, Belgium bringing together scholars, religious freedom and human rights advocates, journalists, diplomats, parliamentarians, religious leaders, representatives of the Government of Turkey, lawyers and members of minority communities that will focus on religious freedom, Turkey's bridge to the European Union.

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While about 30 percent of the world’s population identifies as Christian, 80 percent of all acts of religious discrimination are directed at Christians. (Source: International Society for Human Rights)

Christians face persecution in more than 60 Countries (U.S. State Department)

Millions of Christians face interrogation, arrest, torture, and/or death because of their religious convictions and cultural/ethnic identification (Source: Open Doors USA)

Between 2007 and 2014, Christians have been targeted for harassment in more countries than any other religious group. (Pew Research)

Christian responses to persecution are almost always nonviolent and, with very few exceptions, do not involve acts of terrorism. (Under Caesar’s Sword)

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Sen. Marco Rubio emphasized Wednesday that with the increasing persecution of Christians in the Middle East, complacency with the current situation is not an option for the United States.

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The Order of St. Andrew the Apostle is comprised of Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate who have been honored for their outstanding service to The Orthodox Church by having a Patriarchal title, or "offikion," bestowed upon them by His All Holiness, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew. Those upon whom this title of the Mother Church has been conferred are known as "Archons of the Great Church of Christ," and the titles are personally conferred by the Exarch of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in America, His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios.

The Order's fundamental goal and mission is to promote the religious freedom, wellbeing and advancement of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, which is headquartered in Istanbul, Turkey.